Ok so with that short introduction out of the way let's get back to what I really want to talk about and that is BEAUTY. One of the main issues I see among women and girls today is the failure to accept the way they look. I see women constantly comparing themselves to one another, stuck in a never ending attempt to find fulfillment in their own beauty.
The above paragraph is something that I have struggled with for a long time. I mean a very long time and if I'm honest it still haunts me from time to time. The key to solving this issue is to really understand where the need comes from. Where does this desire to be beautiful and wanted come from? Well it comes from out Creator! Our God created us with the need and the desire to know and to be fully known in return. So these deep desires that we hold in our heart to be wanted, to be deeply desired, are valid. They were intentionally etched into our very being. So where do we go from there? How do we come to peace with all of this? Stay tuned.
But for now we are coming up on the part where I bring up the over used Bible verse that everyone reads when they need a little pick-me-up when it comes to their physical appearance. Don't worry I've done it too and I am about to do it again and you'll see why in a minute.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, my soul knows it very well! (Psalm 139:14)
When approaching scripture we always want to remember to approach it in Spirit. So when we look at this verse at face value we're like "oh yeah that's great, maybe I'll even get that tattooed on my arm someday" (BTW totally love tattoos) but when we approach it in Spirit we can begin to look beyond face value and see what God has really offered us here. The Bible is a love story, a true story about how our God loves us with a pure, fierce, unending love. So now we can really get into the thick of this verse, break it apart and take in all that it's worth.
I begin by looking at the word wonderful, it's mentioned twice here.
won·der·ful
adjective
inspiring delight, pleasure, or admiration; extremely good; marvelous
Do you see how beautiful this picture is painted now? You aren't just simply a creation but a marvelous creation! You are an inspiring delight! When God created you it was no small thing. He created you to be something great, so have faith in the work that He has done in you! Know that you are a wonderful, complex, inspiring creation with a great purpose!
Remember how I talked earlier about knowing and being known? Well, there is another part of the scripture that comes to mind. Psalm 139:17-18 says: "How precious are your thoughts about me, O God! They cannot be numbered! I cannot even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!"
pre·cious
adjective
of great value; not to be wasted or treated carelessly
There is a God who KNOWS you. The same God that created the universe and hung the stars in the sky. He knows you! His thoughts are precious towards you! When you think about this remember, too, that our God is infinite and not bound by the boundaries of time. Think about that for a minute, would you? I know it's hard to wrap your mind around it, and that's ok! That's how our marvel remains, but He was thinking about you before you were born on this earth. He's been thinking about you for a long time and his thoughts are precious, meaning that they are of great value to Him they are never wasted thoughts! Girl, you are known by the same God who knows the stars by name. How amazing is that?
But how am I really supposed to look at so and so's instagram account without hash tagging: thigh goals? Because let's face it, outer beauty is special too. You were, after all, were created with a body, eyes, nose, and lips and that's good! It's ok to want to feel beautiful on the outside, just remember that it has to be handled in a delicate way.
I think the number one key is, like we talked about earlier, knowing and understanding your true identity in Christ. That He looks upon you with a true uncorrupted view and he loves you! Just the way you are.
The second key is understanding that same goes for all other girls as well. I think it's time that we understand that it's ok to look at a beautiful girl and celebrate her beauty and still celebrate your own. Instead of tearing yourself apart or finding little things to tear her apart with, celebrate! Celebrate your differences, get inspired by her! Celebrate her curves or her toned muscles . Celebrate her freckles or her braces. Whatever it is, celebrate it. Know that she was created just as marvelous as you were. We serve a mighty and creative God. Just look at the diversity that surrounds you. We were each created with unique and special characteristics that were meant to be shared with one another. Our differences give us the chance to learn and grow from one another!
Our differences is the very reason that true beauty goes without definition.
And isn't that something to be celebrated? Because I don't know about you, but it sure does take the weight off my shoulders.
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